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Sudden Cross-eyed Vision NOT double vision

I've looked everywhere online and haven't found a single thing about these incidents/episodes with my vision.  FYI - I have astigmatism in both eyes, nearsighted, migraines with aura, and that's all I can think of that would be related to why this happened.  I am 31 years old, female.

About four weeks ago (3/28/09), suddenly my vision went cross-eyed.  But I was not intentionally crossing my eyes.  It felt the same as if I were intentionally crossing my eyes, but I could not control my eye movement at all.  It lasted about 45 seconds or so.  Then my vision went back to normal.  I felt the slightest bit dizzy (not even 10 minutes), and my eyes felt strained (for about an hour) afterward, but I was not in any pain, and my eyes did not hurt.  I did nothing about it at the time, because I figured it was nothing to worry about.
This happened a second time two days ago (4/20/09), exactly the same except it lasted only about 30 seconds.  And the same feeling...slightly dizzy (about 5 minutes), and eye strain (about an hour) afterward.  None of the same circumstances were present from the first time it happened.  Just out of the blue, sudden cross-eyed vision.
I immediately looked online to see who I should call/see (ophthalmologist or neurologist?) & made an appointment with an ophthalmologist.  My appointment was this morning.  My eye exams were all normal...nothing out of the ordinary.  She set me up with a blood test for possible myasthenia gravis, but she says it's most likely not the issue. She said she wasn't really sure what to tell me because she had never really heard of this before.
She told me that the next time it happens to cover up one of my eyes to see if I can see clearly.  She also said it could possibly be a TIA, but I am not in the right age group.  My main concern is if it happens while I'm driving, as it could be very dangerous!

Any ideas?  Explanations?  Suggestions?  Thank you!
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Avatar universal
I started having this weird feeling that my right was crossed like a rubber band is pulling it and Everything gets blurry and I get slightly dizzy about a year ago.  It only last for a short period and everything goes back to normal.  When it started it was seldom.  Now it's every day, several times a day.  I am 1 1/2 years post op aortic heart valve replacement, and 1 year post op thyroid cancer.  I had migraines with auras for 32 years, but for the last 10 years I get the auras but no headache.  I am 55.  Everytime I mention this to my doctor he just says, hmmm.  I am starting to be concerned about driving anymore.  I read somewhere that it could be something with the pituitary gland.  It is really starting to scare me, I have been through so much already.
Helpful - 1
3 Comments
I would suggest you see a neuro-ophthalmologist.  If you see an ophthalmologist ask for a referral, if not major medical centers and departments of ophthalmology usually have one on staff. This is their expertise, difficult diagnoses.
Thank you
Yes, best of  luck SuzeQ
Avatar universal
Did you ever find out what was happening? This happened to me this morning, and I too have astigmatism, nearsightedness (quite a bit) and migraines with aura. It was the most unnerving experience and happened right in front of my children (1 and 4 years old). I tried so hard not to panic in front of them but I was terrified!
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
No posts in a while. If you want start a new discussion by making a new post.
Avatar universal
This is happening to me nearly every day at work and has done since I was in school. I'm 25. I've been back and forwards to the doctors, been given anti depressants, was told it was stress and anxiety and was put through 6 weeks of therapy. I've been referred to a neurologist as they thought it may have been epilepsy and now been referred to a sleep clinic. I battle with this almost every day! No one seems to have any answers. When it happens to me I feel drunk, dizzy, can't see properly, tunnel vision, my heart races and I get a sinking feeling on my chest. When I come out with it I can't remember what I've done like I've suffered memory loss which is worrying when it's happening at work. If anyone has any answers about this please let me know cause this is ruining my life, I'm constantly tired like it physically drains me after it's happened!!!
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
As mentioned in this extended discussion thread the most common cause is 'spasm of accommodation'  I would suggest seeing a neuro-ophthalmologist different than a neurologist.
Avatar universal
I had something similar occur.  About 6 years ago I was shopping and all of a sudden I became crossed eyed.  I could not focus and then my legs felt so heavy that I could not feel the floor.  I was diagnosed with an Ischimic stroke. One week after I got out of the hospital I was driving and lost my vision except for2 pinhole s.  Now have high blood pressure and require prism in my lenses to prevent me from being cross eyed
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Important thing about a stroke? Don't have a second one.
Avatar universal
My girlfriends daughter had a brain tumor and she said that's what happened to her so I wanna find out
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Your symptoms would be highly unlikely to be due to a brain tumor.  Start out by having an eye examination by an ophthalmologist eye MD.
Avatar universal
Always happens when it's dark out just 2 hours after I get up
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
Do your arns shoulders and legs hurt after the eyecrossing
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Avatar universal
I get this to in the morning when it's dark out about 2 hours after I wake up same thing I go cross eyed it feels like then it stops it keeps happening for an hour or 2
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This has just happened to me this morning sept 2016. I also suffer migraines with aura every month for 30 years. I'm a fit 41 yo female with excellent diet etc. I feel it's migraine aura poss stroke related so am worried. Is this still happening to everyone here? I'm I likely to get this again now? I know the medics know little about us 1% that suffer aura. Any info greatly appreciated
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
If you have had migraine with aura but no headache for 30 years, your general health is excellent, you lead a healthy lifestyle, do not have a bad family history of cardio-vascular or neurological disease. Have had recent exams by your family MD and an ophthalmologist then the chance of this related to a stroke is extremely small.
177275 tn?1511755244
Bizzare
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If in the future your research finds anything out of what I posted above, please post your findings, thanks.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
The same happens to me started last year n just getting worse. Its due to Myasthanis Gravis. My neurogist gave me a remedy STOP STRESSING (easier said than done). STRESS is a major factor in alot of illnesses even cancer Ive been told. Stay away from steroids will help with eye problem but will cause major harm to other organs. See neurologist. Mr Dr is the BEST
No matter how much stress a person has it will not cause myasthenia gravis. Moreover MG is not a common cause of double vision it is a rare disease.  Reducing stress is a good advice for all of us and the world in general. Steroids used short term are quite safe for most people. Long term steroid use causes side effects in virtually all.
Avatar universal
This just happened to me this morning.  3 weeks ago I had a mitral valve repair on my heart. After surgery  I was light headed and lower blood pressure than normal, although still in good range. I ended up getting a unit of blood transfusion.  I was put on iron pills until my follow up 4 days ago, when the dr. said I did not need it anymore. Funny thing is today I went to follow up with my regular dr. today, he looked at my eyes and said that I still had anemia and my blood pressure was still low but in good range. 5 minutes after leaving his office all of a sudden my eyes had a crossed eyed feeling. My wife looked and said my eyes were not crossed. I had her pull over so I could sit still for a couple minutes. After a few minutes it cleared up. My point is, that it may be brought on by low iron and low blood pressure.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
177275 tn?1511755244
shifty. Your problem requires an eye exam ideally by a ophthalmologist that specializes in eye muscle (strabismus) problems. They are often called "pediatric ophthalmologists' but most do adult eye muscle problems also

Helpful - 0
177275 tn?1511755244
green eyes. Vision arises from the eye and single vision arises from two eyes looking at the same thing and the brain integrating the images into a single vision with depth perception.  You can see things with your eyes shut "in your minds eye" or by stimulation of parts of the brains, in hallucinations but these will not be crossed or double vision.  Your eyes may not cross all the time but sometimes they may cross due to a wide variety of reasons. You will not experience double vision if your eyes are truly straight.

My suggestion would be to see a neuro-ophthalmologist. If you live in USA you can go to www.geteyesmart.org and find one near you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've had surgery on my eyes in 2014.my muscles had supposedly stretched causing my eyes to cross but here I am again with them crossing. It starts out gradual and gets worse and worse until I need to close an eye to see anything further than 5 ft away. I have fibro and have wondered if this is something to do with it but idk.
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Avatar universal
What causes my vision to cross but my eyes not to cross and then I might get a headache or might not. No doctor that I see can give me an answer. Thanks for your time.
Helpful - 0
177275 tn?1511755244
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Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This same thing has been going on with me it was like twice in six months now it's been twice this past week. My eyes have not crossed but I do have crossed vision yesterday I took photos of my eyes while this was happening and I looked after my vision was back to normal and my pupils were big and not normal looking. This happened to me driving last month I had to call my husband to come get me it last anywhere from a minute to an hour and a half. if I go to sleep when I wake up its usually gone. SO WEIRD! I'm so glad other people out there are having this I do not feel so crazy now. Hopefully we can get this figured out so we do not have to just "deal" with this. Sometimes I get a headache when this happens and sometimes I don't. this is very scary to me. I am 31.  thanks again for making me feel like I'm not just going crazy. I hope and pray that you have a very blessed day.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I don't no if my eyes cross but it comes to the point where it feels like I'm trying to look at my nose
177275 tn?1511755244
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Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You people have made me feel like I'm actually not going insane! I am 23 years old and I experience the cross eyed feeling on almost a daily basis now. Sometimes it lasts for long enough that I start to get headaches. I do not wear glasses and my vision is great according to the optometrist.

It does happen when I'm driving, but I will just close or cover my right eye (probably not the safest thing, but hey). Always my right eye, though. If i cover my left eye, my right eye has a tough time seeing things clearly. I have to close my eye way too often to read and write things and see pictures or faces or whatever clearly. I feel like an idiot. But anyway, I don't know if its worth it to go see a specialist after reading all of these comments. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there's much that can be done.
Helpful - 0
177275 tn?1511755244
When you look at something close if you pay close attention to the peripheral vision you will see double and if you are looking at something far away and you hold a finger or pencil up in front of you it will be double. That is normal and is called physiologic diplopia (double vision) If you are interested in the explanation of this read about it on wikipedia.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My eyes go cross eyed when u close them and also if i am focusing on an object nearby the object in the background is double and vice versa.I have very bad eyesight, -6, but i have -5 glasses. I was wondering if that was the cause. Im nearsighted and 14 years old
I spend a lot of time on my phone too
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177275 tn?1511755244
The focus muscle is very strong age 11 so this problem is mainly in the young. If your glasses correct for farsightedness then not wearing the glasses is the likely cause.  JCH MD
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had the same experience it was very scary especially that I am 11 years old plus I have glasses but they broken I am getting them fixed
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You have helped me a great deal with several eye issues, and you are most welcome.
Helpful - 0
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